The Executed Empress Proposed to His Scarred Brother novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: The Marquess Calls
She was wearing her gown laced wrong and her hair was still wet when her father walked in.
Marquess Valcour stopped on the threshold with his hat in his hands.
He was fifty-two years old, stout, silver-haired, with a copper beard going white, and he wore a ministry's gold chain on his chest.
It had not been there at the ball.
The Emperor had hung it on him an hour after the betrothal was announced.
Behind him, two porters carried in a dark wood trunk and set it at the foot of the bed.
The chamberlain stayed at the door with his arms folded.
"Daughter," said the Marquess.
"Father."
"You look well."
"I look wet."
Ilarion stood at her shoulder, in his shirt with the sleeves rolled back.
He had put his hand at the small of her back when the bolt slid, and it was still there, a broad warm weight.
Her father's eyes went to it and then away.
"His Majesty has been generous," the Marquess said carefully. "He is willing to forget this foolishness."
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of The Executed Empress Proposed to His Scarred Brother are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
← Chapter 16 · All chapters · Chapter 18 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend